"Alert troops noticed suspicious movement near the Line of Control in Tootmaar Gali area of Kupwara district during the wee hours.

"As soon as the infiltrators crossed to this side of the LoC, they were challenged," an army official said, adding three militants were killed in the ensuing gunbattle. This is the third infiltration bid foiled by the army in two weeks.

Three soldiers and a militant were killed in a failed infiltration bid on May 25 in Tangdhar sector while four militants and a civilian were killed in the same area earlier this week.